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New NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and state Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres have secured their place in travel industry hearts with the release of a $530 million package aimed at reviving events across NSW and getting tourism back on track.
The package, part of the NSW Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan, won immediate gratitude from AFTA, which described it as “a positive step in the long hard recovery of the travel sector”.
The NSW Tourism Industry Council the new $50 Stay and Rediscover vouchers in the package would encourage families to get out and explore NSW, helping the visitor economy make up ground lost due to lockdown. 
The NSW tourism and events recovery package includes:

  • $250 million for the expanded Stay & Rediscover scheme providing a $50 voucher to all NSW adults to redeem at accommodation premises across NSW.
  • $150 million to support the recovery of major event activity across the state including $50 million for a Regional Events Package to support major events, festivals, agricultural shows and community events across the regions.
  • $60 million for an Aviation Attraction Fund to incentivise international airlines to re-commence flights to Sydney.
  • $6 million to bring business events back to the city.
  • $50 million for the CBDs Revitalisation Program to support events and activations in CBDs across Greater Sydney and surrounds.
  • An Event Saver Fund to provide immediate support to organisers if events are cancelled or disrupted by any public health orders during the 2021-22 summer.
  • $25 million for the Festival Relaunch package – to stabilise established commercial and not-for-profit festivals, big and small, so they can program with confidence into 2022/23.
  • $10 million for a Recovery Marketing Campaign including an extension of the successful roadtrips campaign launched in 2020.

 

Sydney Harbour before the pandemic (pictured in 2018). Photo © Peter Needham

Premier Perrottet said the package would bring back tourists and supercharge the businesses and attractions that contribute $38 billion to the NSW economy, making the state one of the world’s most popular destinations.
“Millions of people around the world dream of visiting Sydney and our regional areas,” Perrottet said. “This package not only ensures they can, but that they’ll experience the very best of what we have to offer.
“It’s also great news for people right across our state, reviving events and businesses and bringing our major drawcards back to life.  Importantly, more than 300,000 people rely on our tourism industry and our aim is to reclaim our position as one of the world’s favourite destinations.”
NSW Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said the much-needed investment would “help revive shuttered businesses and bring tourism providers back to their vibrant best.
“This was a one in one-hundred-year event which severely damaged our tourism industry; operators barely hung in there as they lost bookings, customers and staff, now as we rebuild we can do so with confidence,” Ayres said.
“For our visitor economy to reach its full potential we need event owners to dream big, airlines to fly in and for locals and visitors to embrace our world class venues and hospitality with enthusiasm once again.”
24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said the lights of NSW cities had been dimmed for too long.
“Whether you are heading back to the office, in town for a show or a game, or meeting some friends for an alfresco drink, we want to make going into city centres a magical experience”.
AFTA chief executive Dean Long welcomed the support package as a positive step in the right direction, “particularly the $60 million for an Aviation Attraction Fund to incentivise international airlines to re-commence flights to Sydney and $6 million to bring business events back to the city”.

NSW South Coast winter scene, from Bulli

“The road to recovery for Australia’s travel sector, however, is a long one,” Long said.
“Travel expertise to navigate the complexities of COVID-travel is needed now more than ever and as events and tourism begin to ramp up again, travel agents will be essential.
“Australia’s travel agents and businesses have been in hard lockdown for more than 600 days and until airlines and cruise capacity return to normal levels, which won’t be before the second quarter of 2022, we will need support.”
“The 30,000 Australians who work in Australia’s travel sector and the 3000 agencies and businesses who employ them urgently need ongoing Government help so we can keep providing the expert support travellers need as tourism gets back on track and recovers.”
Greg Binskin, executive manager of NSW Tourism Industry Council, said the new $50 Stay and Rediscover vouchers would encourage families to get out and explore NSW and experience places they have always wanted to visit, helping the visitor economy make up ground lost due to lockdown.
“Combined with additional Dine & Discover vouchers to spend on local food and experiences, a holiday, attend an event or a visit to family and friends is now on the table for NSW residents,” Binskin said.
“The Aviation Attraction Fund will help grow the pie by bringing more flights and more people to NSW, creating opportunity for all segments of the visitor economy.
“As the weather warms, the new Event Saver Fund will bring confidence back to event organisers as they start to plan and prepare to relaunch events and festivals that have hibernated during lockdowns.
“The uncertainty of snap lockdowns has crippled the events industry; this new fund will allow organisers to start planning today for a cracking 2022.
“This will in turn encourage more visitor spending, providing social and economic benefits to all those towns and villages who have tourism and events as a key source of income.
“The tourism industry needs to show our fellow NSW residents that the visitor economy is #backtobusiness so it’s time to roll out the welcome mat and be ready for the arrival of visitors,” Binskin said.
Written by Peter Needham